Software Generalist

Good developers are "generalists" because detailed knowledge of a particular tool isn't nearly as useful as the ability to apply a broad variety of tools to the problem at hand. Top-notch developers may know several languages very well, but what distinguishes them from the pack is the ability to:

• determine the right technology for the job
• become productive in a new technology in a matter of days (not weeks)
• do this continuously

In my case, this commitment to lifelong learning not only makes me more productive - it adds greatly to the fun of developing software.

Portfolio

Most of my work has been done "behind the firewall", so there is not a lot to point to on the web. Here are a few items of interest, and link to my resume. The feed at right and my blog also give some clues to my interests and areas of expertise.

The Midwest Social Media Group site is a business venture which offers social media services to local businesses. The site has a minimalist design and easy navigation. It was built using Django, and runs on the Google App Engine.

Detroit Developers is a cooperative venture by Erik and several other area software professionals. The proof-of-concept site (pictured) is a social network running on Ning. Another site is under development, which uses Drupal as the underlying technology.

My resume contains the details about my work history and skills. You may notice that bullets under the "Summary" section at the top are just copies of what is in my work history. When I send a resume for a specific project, I will usually change these in order to highlight what is most relevant at the top.